By Jessica McDonald, Fleeting Glimpse Photography
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – On a hot and humid Saturday afternoon, dozens of catfish anglers gathered at the Clarksville Riverwalk to weigh in the cats they pulled from the Cumberland River.
Ken Freeman of the Big Cat Quest Tournament, for Bass Pro Shops, passed out over $4,100 worth of cash prizes and gift certificates.
The winning anglers were Michael “Night Stalker” Fuller and Neville Watkins, both from Clarksville, with a five fish limit weighing in at 78.95 lbs. They took home the cash prize of $1300, and $200 in Bass Pro Shops gift certificates.
In second place was Kevin Breedlove from Pleasant View and Timmy Williams from Springfield, with a five fish limit weighing in at 75.45 lbs.
In third place was Jody Long and David Edge, both from Clarksville, weighing in a five fish limit at 74.30 lbs. Jody Long also held the place of having caught the biggest catfish of the day, weighing in at 38.65 lbs.
Fourth place was Ken Gatlin and Blake Richardson from Chattanooga, with a combined fish weight of 65.80 lbs. This was the first catfishing tournament for teenager Blake Richardson from Chattanooga, and he also can be seen on YouTube catching a 53 lbs. catfish by searching “53 lb Tn Blue Cat.”
Fifth place was held by Larry Muse and Dino Meador and Frank Meador, from Corinth, Mississippi, with a five fish limit of 59.25 lbs.
Five of Saturday’s anglers are active duty military: David Edge, Brandon Hubbard, Nicolas Stephenson, Billy Lyons, and Robert Scott. Jody Long, the Big Fish winner, is also retired military.
All fish were released back into the Cumberland River.